Bi-fold door with standard components



May 6, 1969 w. A. SMITH 3,442,318

BI-FOLD DOOR WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Filed March 27, 1967 Sheet of6 11 INVENTOR. 86/ WESL') A. 5/7/77/ Y Arrow [rs May 6, 1969 w. A. SMITH BIFOLD noon WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Sheet Filed March 27, 1967 INVENTOR.

W551i) A. 5/V/77/ May 6, 1969 w. A. SMITH BI-FOLD DOOR WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Filed March 27, 1967 Sheet 3 of6 J INVENTOR.

Ill E5157 .4. 5/7/77! @Aw i May 6, 1969 .w. A. SMITH BI-FOLD DOOR WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Sheet Filed March 27 1967 A TTOE/V'YS May 6, 1969 w. A. SMITH BIFOLD DOOR WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Sheet Filed March 27 1967 T INVENTOR. W551i) 4. s/v/r/z BY y 6, 1969 w. A. SMITH 3,442,318

BI-F'OLD DOOR WITH STANDARD COMPONENTS Filed March 27, 1967 INVENTOR. WESZEYA. 6/7/77? A TT EA EYS United States Patent US. Cl. 160-193 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A door construction for a building including an upper door panel and means for pivotally mounting the upper door panel adjacent its upper end on a horizontal axis fixed with respect to the building. A pulley assembly is secured to the upper end of the door and to the building and is movable through a predetermined orbit for initiating the opening and closing of the door panel and for the controlling or retarding of such movement. The door is balanced to remain in either its open or closed position or an intermediate position. A lower panel is hinged to the lower edge of the upper panel and is arranged to be maintained outside of the building when the door is open or partially open. A flexible elongated element is resiliently connected to the lower panel so that upon opening of the door construction, the lower panel is pivoted into contact with the lower rear surface of the upper panel and upon closure of the door construction the lower panel is dropped to form a depending extension of the upper panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention results from a continuing effort to improve the door construction disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,067,623 assigned to the asignee of the present invention. While the above-mentioned prior door construction has been highly satisfactory, the door of the present invention includes a novel door opening and closing system for easier opening and closing and better control by the operator. The present door further includes a hinged lower panel which is provided to decrease the area of the opened door exposed to snow and wind loading and the like, together with an improved and simplified system for automatically controlling the movement of the lower panel with respect to the upper panel as the door is opened and closed.

SUMMARY Hence, the objects of this invention include:

(1) To provide a door construction generally of the canopy type adaptable for use in small sizes and in residence garages or the like and equally adaptable for use in covering very large door openings as may be found on aircraft hangars, warehouses and the like.

(2) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, which is relatively simple in construction and can be made economically in a wide variety of sizes.

(3) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, including a hinged lower portion arranged to fold against the upper portion of the door, in which the extension of the opened door construction beyond the door opening is less than in one-piece doors and which is adapted for use in openings on narrow alleys or other situations having limited clearance in front of the building opening.

(4) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, which requires no tracks or the like beside the door to guide the movement thereof and, more particularly, to guide the lower panel as the door opens and in which several doors may be arranged side by side across a large opening without requiring controlling or guiding mechanism which might extend into the opening when the doors are open.

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(5) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, which includes means for manually opening and closing the door, in which the door is readily opened and closed with a minimum of operator exertion and in which the same manual operation is performed and the same means are used to initiate both the opening and closing of the door construction.

(6) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, in which means are provided for positively retarding or stopping movement of the door as it moves toward its open or closed position to sharply reduce slamming thereof due to wind loading or the like.

(7) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, in which the lower panel is located entirely outside the building opening when the door is open or partially open.

(8) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, which will not be materially more expensive to build than doors previously known of the same general type and which will in fact be less expensive to build than similar doors using side tracks.

(9) To provide a door construction, as aforesaid, which will have attractive appearance in both the opened and closed positions, which is capable of installation with a minimum of effort and skill, which will be capable of a long service life with little or no maintenance and which is readily maintainable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a door construction embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken, fragmentary sectional view substantially taken on the line IIII of FIGURE 1 and showing the door construction in its closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a view substantially similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the door construction in a partially opened or intermediate position.

FIGURE 4 is a view substantially similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the door construction in a fully open position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially as taken on the line VV of FIGURE 1 and showing the door construction in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view substantially similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the door construction in its fully open position.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragment of FIGURE 5 but showing the door construction in its fully closed position.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially as taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragment of the lower portion of the door construction of FIGURE 5 showing same at its closed position.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modified door construction embodying the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line XIXI of FIGURE 10 and showing the door construction of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 1.2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified door showing the door construction in a fully open position.

FIGURE 13 is a schematic illustration of the rope and pulley system utilized in the modified door construction.

FIGURE 14 is a partial-sectional view of the bottom lock on the modified door construction.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words upwardly, downwardly, rightwardly and leftwardly will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words forwardly and rearwardly will refer to exterior and interior surfaces, respectively, of the door construction and directions corresponding thereto such directions being, respectively, toward the left and right as shown in FIGURE 2. The words inwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A door construction 10 (FIGURES l, 2 and 3) embodying the invention is arranged for opening and closing the opening 11 in the wall 12 of a building generally indicated at 13. In the particular embodiment shown, a portion of the wall 12 indicated at 14 (FIGURE 3) extends above the opening 11 to the celing 16 of the building. The building 13 is provided with a floor 17 which extends at a reduced level outwardly through the opening 11 to form a driveway 18. The opening 11 is framed with jambs 21 and 22 and a header 23.

The door construction 10 comprises a door 25 which includes an upper panel 26 (FIGURES 1 and 2). The upper panel 26 includes a pair of laterally spaced side members one of which is shown at 27. Intermediate vertical members one of which is indicated at 28 are provided between the side members. Lateral members 31 and 32 connect the side members 27 and 28 intermediate the ends thereof and at the bottom ends thereof, respectively. Preferably centrally located member 33 extends substantially vertically between the lateral members 31 and 32. Sheeting 34 covers the outer face of the door panel 26 and may, if desired, be ribbed or corrugated generally as indicated at 36 in FIGURE 1 in a conventional manner for stiffening. The upper end of the sheeting 34 preferably forms an inwardly extending rectangular section box 37 which extends between the side members 27.

A tubular axle housing 38 extends between the side member 27 and adjacent vertical member 28 on each side of the door panel and is affixed thereto. The axle housing 38 pivotally supports therewithin a suitable laterally elongated pivot axle 39 (FIGURES l and 2). The axle housing 38 is spaced below the box 37 (FIGURES l, and 6). An axle support 41 is afiixed by any convenient means, not shown, to the rear edge of the jamb 21 adjacent the upper edge thereof. A corresponding axle support and axle are similarly associated with the jamb 22. Said axle supports thus pivotally support the upper panel 26. When the upper door panel is in its open position of FIGURE 4, it lies closely adjacent the upper end of the opening 11. When closed, the upper end of the panel 26 is disposed behind the portion 14 o fthe wall 12 and the lower end of the panel extends forwardly into the opening 11.

A framework 46 of any convenient type (FIGURES 1 and 2) is provided above and at one (leftward in FIG- URE 1) side of the door panel 26 within the building 13. The framework 46 consists, in the present embodiment, of a horizontal member 47 supported at one end by a bracket 48 mounted on the interior face of the upper wall portion 14. The horizontal member 47 extends rearwardly from the bracket 48 and is supported adjacent its rearward end by a depending bracket 49 affixed to the ceiling 16 of the building.

A lever assembly 51 comprises an elongated depending lever arm 52 and a link 53. The upperend of the lever arm 52 is pivotally connected at 58 intermediate the ends of the member 47. The link 53 comprises a spaced pair of extended plates the rearward ends 55 of which sandwich and are pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the lever arm 52. The forward end 54 of the link 53 is pivotally affixed to the door panel 26 above the axle 39. When the door panel 26 is either fully opened or fully closed, the lever arm 52 extends downwardly and slightly rearwardly from the pivot 58. With the door fully open, the link 53 extends substantially downwardly along the lower portion of the lever arm 52. The lower portion 59 (FIGURE 4) of the lever arm 52 is rearwardly offset which allows the door end 54 of the link 53 to swing rearwardly under and past the lever arm end 55 thereof to abut the offset portion 59 of the lever arm. In such position, the pivot 54 lies to the rear to the common vertical center line of the pivots 55 and 58 to lock the door in an open position. Thus, the forward end of the panel 26 resists upward or downward forces thereon when open due to the overcenter, locked relationship of the link 53 with respect to the lever arm 52. When open, the door can be unlocked only upon rearward movement of the lower end of the lever arm 52.

As the door panel 26 swings from its closed position toward a partially open position, it will be noted that the lower end of the lever arm 52 swings rearwardly. As the door approaches its fully open position, the lever arm 52 returns forwardly to a position closely adjacent that occupied when the door is closed. The door panel 26 adjacent and above the axles 39, the axle supports 41 and the lever assembly 51, to the extent described hereinabove, may be substantially similar to corresponding parts of the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 2,067,623.

Turning now to the portions of the door cnstruction 10 which depart from the teachings of the aforementioned patent, the door construction 10 is provided with a lower panel 61. The lower panel 61 is pivotally secured to the lower edge of the upper panel 26 by hinges 62 adjacent the side edges of the door construction. The common axis of the hinges 62 is on the rearward side of the door for allowing the lower panel to swing rearwardly and upwardly with respect to said upper panel and into adjacency with the rearward face thereof as shown in FIG- URE 4. The lower door panel 61 is preferably substantially shorter than the distance between the axles 39 and the lower edge of the upper door panel 26. In the particular embodiment shown, the lower door panel 61 includes a pair of spaced side members one of which is shown at 64 (FIGURE 1). Vertical intermediate members 66 and 67 are disposed between the side members 64 of the lower door panel 61 and are aligned with the members 28 and 33 of the upper panel 26. Upper and lower members 68 and 69 extend between the side members 64 and are connected by the members 66 and 67. Angled braces 71 extend from the lower corners of the lower door panel 61 to the central upper edge thereof to improve the rigidity of the panel. Sheeting 72 covers the front face of the panel 61 and may be corrugated or ribbed, if desired. A suitable weather seal 73 is provided along the lower edge of the upper panel 26 for engaging the outer surface of the lower panel 61 when the door is closed in order to prevent wind, snow or the like from passing through the joint between the upper and lower panels.

Door stops 74 and 75 are attached to the opposed faces of the jambs 21 and 22 and extend downwardly therealong the lower portion of the stops being substantially vertical and the upper portions thereof extending at a slight angle to the vertical corresponding to the angle of the upper panel of the door when in its closed position.

The door construction 10 is provided with an actuating system 76 (FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4). The actuating system 76 includes an elongated flexible element 77, preferably a rope, chain, cable or the like, which is arranged to travel over a plurality of bearing devices, preferably rotatably mounted pulleys hereinafter described, for opening and closing the door construction 10. More specifically, the actuating system 76 includes a double pulley 78 mounted on the lower end of the arm 52 for rotation with respect thereto. A double sheave pulley 78 is carried by a bolt 80 on the bottom end of the lever arm preferably on the side thereof facing away from the door.

The sheaves of the pulley 78 are independently rotatable about a common axis. A further double sheave pulley 79 is carried by a rod 83 in turn supported by a block 81 which extends rearwardly from the axle support 41 below the axle 39. The sheaves of the pulley 79 are supported on either side of the block 81 for independent rotation about a common axis. A single sheave pulley 82 is rotatably supported by a bolt 84 on the rearward end of the horizontal member 47. The pulley 82 is thus located above and just to the rear of the pulley 78 when the lever arm is in its rearwardmost position. The pulley 79 is located in front of and just below the pulley 78 when the lever arm 52 is in its forwardmost position shown in FIGURE 2. Thus the pulleys 79 and 82 lie just beyond the ends of the arcuate path traversed by the pulley 78 as the lever arm 52 pivots in opening and closing the door. The axes of the pulleys 78, 79 and 82 parallel the axles 39. The pulleys 78, 79 and 82 are substantially equally spaced from the side edge of the upper panel 26.

The actuating system 76 further includes a tensioning device 86 located on the rear edge of the jamb 21 below the pulley 79 and preferably near the floor 17. The tensioning device 86 includes a generally U-shaped, vertically extending track 87. A rectangular weight member 88 is vertically slideably disposed in the track 87. A pulley casing 92 is carried by a pin 91 which extends rearwardly from the weight member 88. The casing 92 supports a pulley 89 for rotation with respect thereto. The rotative axis of the pulley '89 is at right angles to the plane of the lower door panel 61 as seen in FIGURE 2.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGURES 14, the rope 77 is afiixed at one end thereof to the outer end of the butt 84 carrying the pulley 82 and extends through an initial reach 96 to and downwardly around the outer sheave of the pulley 78. The rope 77 then passes upwardly through a return reach 97 to and around the pulley 82. The uppermost reach 98 of the rope extends forwardly from the pulley 82 toward the outer one of the sheaves of the pulley 81. The rope 77 then extends downwardly through a further reach 99, around the pulley 89', upwardly through a return reach 101 and around the inner sheave of the pulley 79. From the pulley 7-9, the rope 77 extends rearwardly through a reach 102, downwardly around the inner sheave of the pulley 78 and thence through a final reach 103 for fastening to the inner end rod 83.

The actuating system 76 is primarily intended for manual operation. However, it is contemplated that such system may use a nonmanual power. source if desired. For example, the pulley 89 might be driven either directly or by any convenient linkage from the output shaft of a low speed, reversible motor energizable for initiating opening or closing of the door.

Although provision of a single framework 46, lever assembly 51 and actuating system 76 on one side of the door construction as above described will open and close the door construction '10 in a satisfactory manner, it is contemplated that a similar set of components may be provided in operative relation with the other (rightward in FIGURE 1) side of the door as indicated at 46A, 51A and 76A in FIGURE 5 so that the door may be opened or closed from either side of the opening 11.

The door construction is also provided with a follower system 111 (FIGURES 5-8) which includes an elongated flexible element 112 such as a rope, cable or the like. The rope 112 is carried by a plurality of bearing devices, preferably pulleys hereinafter described for pivoting the lower panel 61 with respect to the upper panel 26 as the upper panel 26 is rotated on the axles 39 between its open and closed positions. The follower system 1 11 is preferably located adjacent the middle of the door construction 10.

Considering the follower system 111 in more detail, the forward face 113 (FIGURES 7 and 8) of the box 37 is provided with a substantially centrally located opening 114. A cable holder 116 of inverted generally U- shaped cross section is disposed within the box 37 at the lower edge of the opening 114 for providing a smooth supporting surface for the rope 112. A cable clamp 117 depends from the underside of the box 37 and comprises a grooved angle member 118 and matching plate 119 held together by screws 121 for gripping one end of the rope 112 therebetween. The rope 112 extends from the cable clamp 117 upwardly through an opening 122 in the box 37, along the surface of the cable holder 1 16, and out the opening 114.

A pulley 123 is rotatably supported by a bracket 124 which is secured to the interior face of the wall portion 14. The pulley 123 is positioned to enter the opening 114 when the door approaches its closed position as shown in FIGURE 7, the box 37 thus receiving the pulley 123 therewithin. This arrangement allows the forward face of the upper door panel 26 to very closely approach the rearward face of the wall portion 14 when the door construction 10 moves to its closed position.

A further pulley 126 is rotatably disposed in the leg portion of a generally Y-shaped bracket 127 which lies within the box 37 and is aflixed to the upper wall thereof. The pulley 126 is spaced rearwardly of the opening 114. The rope 112 passes from the pulley 123 over the pulley 126 and downwardly through a hole 128 in the bottom panel 129 of the box 37.

A pulley 131 (FIGURES 1 and 6) is rotatably mounted on the rearward face of the upper panel 26 substantially in line with the pulley 126. In the particular embodiment shown, the pulley 131 is mounted by a bracket 132 on the side face of central member 33 and does not extend rearwardly therebeyond. The pulley 131 is spaced from the lower edge of the upper panel 26. A pulley 136 is rotatably mounted by a bracket 137 in alignment with the pulley 13 1 and upon the central member 67 on the lower panel 61. The pulley 136 lies near the lower edge member 69 of the lower panel 61. The pulley 131 is spaced from the axis of the hinges 62 somewhat further than is the pulley 136, the difference in such spacing preferably being the average diameter of said pulleys. Thus, when the door construction 10 is open (FIGURE 6), the rope 112 extends from the pulley 126, through a suitable opening in the member 31 and downwardly around the forward side of the pulley 131 and rearward side of the pulley 136. Resilient means, preferably a helical tension spring 138, is afiixed to the lower panel 61, and in the particular embodiment shown, to the central member 67 at a point between the pulley 136 and the upper member 68. The free end of the spring 138 is atfixed to the end of the rope 112 extending from the pulley 136. The spring 138 prevents slack in the rope 112 and stretches as required to allow opening and closing of the door construction 10. The spring 138 tends to cushion shocks resulting from the sudden relative movement between the lower and upper door panels due to wind loading or the like. Hence, the spring 138' tends to prevent damage to panels and to the remainder of the follower system 111.

A stop pin 141 (FIGURE 9) depends from the lower edge of the lower panel 61 preferably adjacent each side edge thereof. A stop plate 143 is mounted by any convenient means not shown on the driveway 18 and floor 17 in alignment with each of the stop pins 141. -A groove 142 parallel to the lower edge of the door is provided in each stop plate 143 for receiving the lower end of the corresponding pin 141 when the door is closed to positively position the lower edge of the closed door. The plate 143 includes a ramp 144 in front of the groove 142 along which the pin slides before falling into the groove. The pin is preferably mounted for limited axial sliding motion on the lower panel '61.

If desired in cases where, for example, the lower door panel 61 is relatively light, as in residence garage door constructions, where an increase in the force required to open the door is not prohibited and where the cost of the door must be reduced, the upper pulley 123 on the wall '14 as well as the support 116 and clamp 117 on the upper door panel 26 may be eliminated. The upper end of the rope 112 may then be fixedly secured to the wall 14, for example, by attachment to the bracket 124 or to any convenient equivalent thereto. It should be noted, however, that when the door is closed the portion of the rope 112 reaching between the pulleys is substantially longer than when the door is open and that the excess is stored in the embodiment shown in the drawings between the pulley 123 and support 116. Thus, elimination of the pulley 123 would require other means for such storage. As an example, it is contemplated that one or both of the pulleys 131 and 136 might be moved nearer the hinge axis and to accomplish such storage. Such, however, would undesirably increase door opening elfort and, hence, the rope tension and stresses on the pulleys required to fold the lower door panel as the door is opened.

The door construction is preferably balanced to remain stable in the intermediate or partially open condition of FIGURE 3 and to swing by itself toward its open or closed positions when displaced from that intermediate position. The door construction 10 may be equipped with counterweights of any desired type if neccessary to achieve such balance, such weights being located, for example, in the box 37.

OPERATION With the door construction 10 closed as in FIGURES 1 and 2, same may be opened by manually grasping the reach 99 of the rope 77 and exerting a downward pull thereon. Such pull is transmitted from the reach 99 through the reaches 98, 97 and 96 to move the lower end of the lever arm 52 upwardly and rearwardly. The pulley 78 causes the force exerted on the lever to be substantially twice the pull on the reach 99. The intermediate location of the pivot point 54 on the link 53 on the lever arm 52 causes a further multiplication, approximately by a factor of two, 'in the rearward force transmitted by the link 53 to the upper end of the upper panel 26. The rightward force on the upper end of the upper panel 26 causes the upper door panel to pivot in a clockwise direction about the axles 39 toward its intermediate position of FIGURE 3. If it should be desired to retard the door as it moves toward its intermediate position, the downward force on the reach 99 is stopped and a corresponding downward force is exerted upon the reach 101.

After the door has opened past its intermediate position of FIGURE 3, its opening movement may be accelerated by a downward force on the reach ll or, if desired, may be retarded by a downward force on the reach 99. As the door approaches its fully open position of FIGURE 4, the link 53 .pivots in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 55 on the lever arm 52 and the pivot 54 connecting the link 53 and the door panel 26 drops below said pivot 55.

When open, the distribution of weight of the door 10 is such as to urge same to remain open. The opened door thus pulls on the link 53 and lever arm 52 so that the pivots 58, 54 and 55 are aligned and thus, further clockwise movement of the door is prevented after it has assumed its normal open position.

When the door is open, the link 53 and lever arm 52 angle upwardly and leftward at a small angle to the vertical and the pivot 54 is substantially horizontally displaced from the axle 39. Thus, a counterclockwise torque on the panel 26, due for example, to a snow load on the forward end thereof, tends to move the pivot 54 of the link 53 against the lower portion 59 of the lever 52 for positively preventing closing of the door. This locking effect can be overcome to close the door only upon rearward movement of the lower end of the arm 52 by tensioning of the reach 99 of the rope 77.

To close the door when it is in its open condition, the

rope 77 is actuated in the same manner as it was to open the door. Thus, closure of the door is initiated by downward pull on the reach 99 which moves the lower end of the lever arm 52 rightwardly and upwardly thus releasing the lever arm 52 and link 53 from their interlocked position and causing the link 53 to lift the upper end of the panel 26 from its position of FIGURE 4 toward its position of FIGURE 3. Such motion may be retarded or reversed, if desired, by a downward pull on the reach 101. The door may thus be stopped in its intermediate position of FIGURE 3 or, alternatively, may be carried by its own inertia beyond the intermediate .position. As the door approaches its closed position, it may be accelerated by a pull on the reach 101 or slowed by a pull on the reach 99.

It will be noted that when the door is in its intermediate, balanced position of FIGURE 3, the pivot 54 of the link 53 is located above a line between the axle 39 and the pivot 55. Thus, the balanced position of door construction 10 is displaced somewhat from the position at which the lever arm 52 is at its rearward limit. As a result, the door is readily moved from rest in its balanced intermediate position. More particularly, a downward pull on the reach 99 will cause the door to move in an opening direction and a downward pull on the reach 11 will cause the door to move in a closing direction. Displacement of the door from its intermediate position shifts the center of gravity thereof and causes the door to automatically move in the direction of the displacement away from the balanced intermediate position.

If desired, the reach 96 and/ or 103 of the rope 77 may be eliminated, the lower end of the reach 97 and the upper end of the reach 103 thereafter being fixed with respect to the lower end of the arm 52 by any convenient means. Such arrangement is, however, not as desirable as the preferred embodiment shown since it will add materially to the downward force required on the reaches 99 and 101 to initiate and control opening and closing of the door but may be acceptable for reasons of economy in relatively small door sizes.

Referring to FIGURE 9, it will be noticed that when the door is closed, the portion 139 of the rope 112 between the pulleys 133 and 136 lies forwardly of the pivot axis of the hinges 62. The rope portion 139 is tensioned by the spring 138 and tends to pull the adjacent edges of the panels 26 and 61 tightly together to reduce any tendency of the door construction to flex at the hinge axis due to variable wind loading or the like. On the other hand, when the door begins to open, the stop pins 141 each engages the forward surface of the groove 142 in the stop plate 143. Thus, forward motion of the lower portion of the lower panel 61 is impeded while the upper portion of the panel 61 is moved forwardly by the openmg panel 26. During this time, the spring 138 expands sufficiently as to allow the portion 139 of the rope 112 to move rearwardly with respect to and past the pivot axis of the hinge 62. With the portion 139 behind the hinge axis, an upward pull on the rope 112 causes the panel 61 to pivot upwardly toward the underside of the panel 26 as in FIGURE 5.

As the door begins to open, the clamp 117 and support 116 move rearwardly away from the pulley 123. This pulls the rope 112 upwardly along the door panel 26 whereby to fold the lower panel 61 toward the underside of the panel 26.

DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIED EMBODIMENT The door (FIGURE 10) is similar to the door 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, there are minor structural differences namely, the hinges illustrated in FIG- URE 1 hinging the upper panel to the lower panel have been moved from the sides of the door to the rearward surface of the door 150 as indicated by the reference numeral 151. Further, the follower system 111 (FIGURE 1) has been moved from the center of the door to both sides of the door. For convenience in reference and dis- 9 cussion, only the left side of the door 150 is illustrated in FIGURE 10. The new follower system 191 is positioned adjacent the cutting plane XIIXII in FIGURE 1. Likewise, the drive system for opening and closing a door 15 has also been changed and will be discussed hereinbelow.

A major portion of the door is unchanged and therefore will not require further discussion. The portions which are identical will be given the same reference numeral with the suffix A added thereto.

The door opening mechanism 155 includes an arm 152 (FIGURE 11) extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the door jamb 153 and is secured thereto by a bracket 154. A brace 156 is secured at one end to the bracket 161 on the arm 152 intermediate the ends thereof and is secured at its other end to the door jamb 153. The length of the brace 156 is adjustable so that the angle of inclination of the arm 152 with respect to the door jamb 153 is variable.

The arm 152 supports a lock 218 positioned intermediate the ends thereof above the point of securement of the brace 156 to the arm 152. The lock 218 comprises a hook 219 having a recess 221 therein, said hook being pivotable about the axis 222 on the bracket 161. The purpose of this construction will become apparent hereinbelow. The lock 218 is further provided with a release mechanism 223 comprising a cable 224 secured to the hook 219.

The lever arm 152 further comprises a pair of independently rotatable pulleys 157 and 158 (FIGURES 11 and 13) secured thereto at the rearwardmost end. A pair of pulleys 159 is secured to the arm 152 intermediate the forwardmost end of the arm 152 and the bracket 161.

The upper end of the door 150 has a pair of independently rotatable pulleys 162 and 163 secured thereto by a bolt 166. The pulleys 163 and 164 move in an arcuate path defined by the radius from the pivot axis 39A to the axis of the bolt 166.

A bracket 167 is secured to the wall 14A and has two sets of parallel, rearwardly extending flanges 168 and 169. A pair of independently rotatable pulleys 171 and 172 are secured between the set of flanges 168 on the bracket 167.

A pulley casing 173 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the door jamb 153 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 with respect to the pulley casing 92. The pulley casing 173 houses a pulley 174.

A rope 176 is secured at one end to the upper end of the door as indicated at 177 in FIGURE 10. The rope 176 extends away from the point of securement 177 through an initial reach 178 (FIGURE 13) to and downwardly around the pulley 158. The rope 176 then extends through the reach 179 to the upper side of the pulley 162 and extends therearound and through the reach 181 to the pulley 157. The rope 176 extends around the pulley 157 and extends through the reach 182 to the upper side of the pulley 159. The rope 176 then passes from the pulley 159 through the reach 183 to the pulley 174 positioned adjacent the door near the bottom thereof. The rope 176 passes around the pulley 174 and extends upwardly through the reach 184 to the pulley 160 on the arm 152 and then to the pulley 171. The rope 176 then passes over the pulley 171 and extends through the reach 186 to the pulley 163. The rope 176 passes around the pulley 163 and extends through the reach 187 to the pulley 172. The rope 176 passes around the pulley 172 and extends through the reach 188 to a point of securement to the upper end of the door as indicated at 189 adjacent the point of securement 177. Both points of securement 177 and 189 are secured to the door-150.

The door construction 150 is also provided with a follower system 191 (FIGURES 12 and 13) which includes an elongated flexible element 192 such as a rope, cable or the like. The rope 192 is carried by a plurality of pulleys hereinafter described for pivoting the lower panel 61A with respect to the upper panel 26A as the upper panel 26A is rota-ted on the axles 39A between its open and closed positions. The follower system 191 is preferably located adjacent the sides of the door construction Considering the follower system 191 in more detail, the bracket 167 supports a pair of independently rotatable pulleys 193 and 194 secured to the set of flange-s 169. A pair of independently rotatable and coaxial pulleys 196 and 197 are secured by any conventional means to the upper end of the door 150 as indicated by the pulley 196 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 11.

A pulley 198 (FIGURES 11, 12, 13) is rotatably mounted on the rearward face of the upper panel 26A substantially in radial alignment with the pulley 196. In the particular embodiment shown, the pulley 198 is mounted by a bracket 199 (FIGURE 11) secured to the edge member 27A (FIGURE 10) of the upper panel 26A and does not extend rearwardly therebeyond. The pulley 198 is spaced upwardly from the lower edge of the upper panel 26A.

A pulley 201 is rotatably mounted by a bracket 202 in alignment with the pulley 198 on the edge member 64A on the lower panel 61A. The pulley 201 lies near the lower edge member 69A of the lower panel 61A. The pulley 198 is spaced from the axis of the hinges 151 somewhat further than is the pulley 201.

The rope 192 is secured to the upper end of the door 150 by a clamp 203 (FIGURE 13). The rope extends forwardly therefrom around the pulley 194 through the reach 204 to the pulley 197. The rope 192 extends around the pulley 197 through the reach 206 to the pulley 193. The rope 192 extends around the pulley 193 through the reach 207 to the pulley 196. The rope 192 extends over the pulley 196 and extends downwardly through the reach 210 to the pulley 198 and passes thereover. The rope 192 then extends to the pulley 201 through the reach 208. The rope 192 passes around the pulley 201 and is secured to one end of a helical tension spring 209. The spring 209 is atfixed to the lower panel 61A, and in this particular embodiment, to the edge member 64A at a point between the pulley 201 and the upper edge mmeber 68A. The spring 209 prevents slack in the rope 192 and stretches as required to allow opening and closing of the door construction 150. The spring 209 tends to cushion shocks resulting from sudden relative movement between the lower and upper panels due to wind loading or the like. Hence, the spring 209, like the spring 138 in the previous embodiment, tends to prevent damage to the panels and to the remainder of the follower system 192.

A door locking system 211 is illustrated in FIGURE 14. The lower portion of the door frame 212 comprises a slot 213 which opens to the front of the door at a position spaced upwardly from the floor of the garage 17A. The slot 213 extends downwardly and to the rear to the floor of the garage 17A.

The lowermost edge 69A of the lower panel 61A comprises a pin 214 (FIGURE 10) which extends outwardly from the sides of the door 150. The pin 214 is of a diameter equal to or slightly less than the width of the slot 213. The purpose of this construction will become apparent hereinbelow.

A pin 217 (FIGURES 11 and 13) projects from the side of the door panel 26A adjacent the upper edge thereof. The pin 217 is movable through an arc defined by the radius from the pivot axles 39A to the pin 216.

OPERATION OF MODIFIED CONSTRUCTION The door construction 150 is opened and closed in a manner identical to that of the door construction 10 and discussed hereinabove. That is, the door may be opened by manually grasping the reach 183 and exerting a downward pull thereon. Such pull is transmitted from the reach 183 through the reaches 182, 1 81, 179 and 178 to move the upper end of the door 150 clockwise about the pivot axles 39A to an intermediate position shown in FIGURE 11. If it should be desired to retard the door as it moves toward its intermediate position, the downward force on the reach 183 is stopped and a corresponding downward force is exerted on the reach 184. Thus, the modified door 150 operates in the same manner as the door illustrated in FIGURE 1, and hence needs no further explanation.

When the door 150 is in its fully opened position, as illustrated in FIGURE 12, the pin 217 will be engaged in the recess 221 of the locking device 218. A release mechanism 223 (FIGURES 10 and 11) is attached to the hook 219 for lifting same so that the pin 217 can become free of the recess 221. In this particular e-mbodi ment, the release mechansm 223 comprises a cable or rope 224 which when pulled downwardly (FIGURE 11) causes a clockwise movement of the hook 219 to lift same from engagement with the pin 217.

To close the door 150 when it is in its open condition, the pin 217 is released from the hook 219 by a downward force exerted on the cable 224. The closure of the door is initiated by a downward pull on the reach 184 which pulls the upper end of the door 150 counterclockwise to the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 11. Such motion may be retarded or reversed, if desired, by a downward pull on the reach 183. The door may thus be stopped in its intermediate position of FIGURE 11 or, alternatively, may be carried by its own inertia beyond the intermediate position.

The pins 214 on the lower edge of the door panel 61A, will be guided into the slot 213 and slide therealong until the door is completely closed. The boss 215 positioned on the frontward side of the door frame 212 will present a forward movement of the pin 214 when the door is completely closed. Thus, the door cannot be pulled open about the pivot axis 39A. It can only be opened by a folding of the panel 61A upon the upper panel 26A.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which lie Within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a two-piece door construction movable between open and closed positions across an opening in a building wall, the combination comprising:

a first door panel having spaced upper and lower edges and means for pivotally mounting said first door panel on a substantially horizontal axis fixed with respect to said building;

a second door panel hingably connected to said lower edge of said first panel;

control means connected to said first panel adjacent the upper end thereof;

manually actuable means for actuating said control means for causing said first door panel to move between said open and closed positions;

first and second spaced pulleys, said first pulley being fixed to said first door panel adjacent the upper end thereof and said second pulley being fixed to said first door panel adjacent the lower end thereof;

a third pulley fixed to said second door panel, said second and third pulleys being aligned and spaced substantially equally from said lower edge of said first door panel;

an elongated, flexible element secured to said first and second door panels and engaging said first, second and third pulleys;

means secured to said building wall adjacent said upper edge of said first door panel and engaging said flexible element for decreasing the spacing between said pulleys as said door is moved from said closed position to said opened position whereby said second door panel will be pivoted about said hinged connection.

2. The two-piece door construction defined in claim 1, including a resilient tensioning device secured at one end to said second door panel and secured at the other end to one end of said flexible element.

3. The two-piece door construction defined in claim 2, including at least one pin extending from said second door panel and a plate fixed with respect to said building wall, said plate including means for engaging said pin when said door is in said closed position.

4. The two-piece door construction defined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises lever assembly pivotally affixed to said first door panel adjacent the upper end thereof, said lever assembly being movable through a predetermined path for initiating opening and closing movement of said door.

5. The two-piece door construction defined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a pulley assembly including a pulley affixed to said first door panel adjacent the upper edge thereof and means secured to said building wall cooperable with said pulley assembly whereby a manual movement of said manually actuable means will cause said pulley assembly and said means on said building wall to cooperate to move said first door panel between said open and closed positions.

6. In a door construction movable between open and closed positions across an opening in a building wall, the combination comprising:

a door panel and means pivotally mounting said door panel on a substantially horizontal axis, first guide means affixed to said door panel adjacent the upper end thereof, said first guide means being movable through a predetermined path between first and second limits;

second guide means mounted on said building wall, said second guide means being located adjacent said first limit of movement of said first pulley means;

an elongated bracket fixedly secured to said building wall and extending outwardly therefrom, said bracket having third guide means mounted thereon and spaced from said building wall, said third guide means being located adjacent said second limit of movement of said first guide means;

an elongated flexible element engaging said first, second and third guide means whereby actuation of said flexible element will cause said first guide means to move between the first and second limits defined by said second and third guide means to move said door between said opened and closed positions; and

tensioning means engaging said flexible element for maintaining said flexible element in taut engagement with said guide means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,691 2/1934 Baldwin et a1 -189 2,067,623 1/1937 Smith 49--390 2,936,830 -5/1960 'Mosher 160-188 3,155,147 11/1964 Smith 160-207 X PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner. 

